Successful liftoff and deployment of 10 Iridium satellites

Long exposure of Falcon 9 launching from the VAFB
Photo Credit // SpaceX

SpaceX's Falcon 9 lifted off from SLC-4E at 8:27pm EST at the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This launch featured a flight-proven first stage booster, which previously launched the Iridium-2 mission back in June. The interstage on the booster was left uncleaned, because there was no need to and it would not affect the mission. It also did not feature any landing legs, but grid fins were installed still for a controlled descent and soft touchdown of the first stage in the Pacific Ocean, which was successful. After the second stage engine shutdown, it carried the 10 Iridium satellites around Earth for a 42-minute coast phase. The second stage started up a second time for approximately 11 seconds to circularize the orbit. After second stage shutdown for the second time, the 10 Iridium satellites started deploying after 5 minutes over the course of 15 minutes.

Falcon 9 clears the pad at SLC-4E
Photo Credit // SpaceX

Everything happened on time and successfully. This was SpaceX's last launch of the year and overall the last launch in the world for the year. This was their 18th launch, which beats their previous years and the other space companies launches. It was a good year for SpaceX and next year will be better with the maiden launch of their Falcon Heavy and the continued testing of Dragon 2 with the in-flight abort and Demo flight.

Iridium-4 to launch on SpaceX flight proven booster

SpaceX is launching the next 10 satellites for Iridium, a global leader in mobile voice and data communications. Following this launch, it will be the 'halfway-point' for getting all 75 total satellites that SpaceX will be launching for the global Iridium NEXT constellation. SpaceX is currently targeting a launch time of 5:27pm PST or 8:27pm EST tonight during an instantaneous launch window. Iridium-4 will launch from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base at Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) and will not attempt a recovery of the first stage. This Falcon 9 previously launched the Iridium-2 mission back in June, making Iridium the first company to reuse a booster from their previous missions. This launch will be the last rocket launch until the new year, starting with launching 'Zuma' in early January. 

The payload for the launch are a set of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites that will replace the world's largest commercial satellite network and will be one of the latest tech upgrades in history.  Thales Alenia Space has assisted in the manufacturing, assembly, and testing of all 81 Iridium satellites. The new constellation of satellites will provide faster speeds for aviation, maritime, and internet. Iridium is the only mobile voice and data communications network that spans the entire globe and it enabled real-time connections between people and assets to and from everywhere. 

SpaceX Dragon spreads its wings toward the ISS

SpaceX launched their Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) carrying the Dragon spacecraft toward the ISS. This is the first launch from SLC-40 since the Amos-6 pad anomaly back in September of 2016. This is also the first time NASA has agreed to use a flight-proven first stage on a resupply mission under the CRS contract. 

The Falcon 9 lifted off from SLC-40 at 10:36am EST and ascended into the skies of Cape Canaveral, Florida carrying loads of science to the International Space Station. There are 2 major payloads in

Photo of Dragon separation from the second stage
Photo credit // SpaceX

the unpressurized portion of Dragon which will be extracted by the robotic arm on the ISS a little after arrival. One of the payloads is a Total and Spectral Solar Irradiance Sensor (TSIS-1) that will measure the suns solar energy flow to the Earth and how it affects the atmosphere. The second payload is a space debris sensor that'll be used to analyze the small particles that the ISS collides with. Inside the pressurized portion of Dragon, there are various experiments that will be conducted inside of the ISS by the crew. There are also technological demonstrators for cell science research and fluid experiments as well as materials for micro-g fiber optic cable construction. Secondly, there are rodents being sent up for other research on how they react to different environments on the space station. Lastly, barley is being sent to the ISS and will be the first step to an on-board brewery.

Falcon 9 lifts off of SLC-40
Photo credit // SpaceX

SLC-40 has also been upgraded in various ways to support more launches and added redundancies for familiarity between launch pads for employees. They have made new doghouses (shields for the hold down clamps) to help protect the clamps during launch to last longer. The flame trench has been redesigned to withstand more power which allow for longer static fires of the Falcon 9. LOX Systems have been upgraded to make the densification of liquid oxygen a lot faster and the loading of it into the launch vehicle quicker. After the strongback was destroyed when Falcon exploded on the pad, they have manufactured a new one which has stronger lift cylinders to allow a one-step process to raise the vehicle vertically faster. Now that SLC-40 is active once again, SpaceX has 3 operational launch pads which will allow for a faster cadence of launches.

The Dragon spacecraft used on this mission has been refurbished after being flown for CRS-6 back in 2015. In order for Dragons to be reused, they need to go under several analysis, inspections, and

The Falcon 9 first stage lands at LZ-1
Photo credit // SpaceX

tests in McGregor, Texas and Hawthorne, California. The first stage was also reused and did not have the soot washed off of it, which they plan to do for other reused boosters as well (unless it's beneficial to wash it).